12 August 2018

From the bartender’s corner – Mezcal #1: Mezcal Sacrificio (Reposado)

Region: This Mezcal is made in the Oaxaca state (where most of Mezcals in Mexico is made). The specific area where the agave comes from is Tiacolula. Disteleria Sacrificio was started only about 7 years back.

Agave: This is the 100% espadin variety of agave – which is incidentally the most common agave used to make mezcals in Mexico. Usually the agaves are picked once they reach maturity around 8-10 years.

Roasting: The “pinas” of the espadin agave are slashed and then roasted in underground pits. Mesquite wood is lit up and burnt for two days for the pinas to get roasted.

Smashing: The slushy pinas are then smashed using a big rock wheel and a mule that keeps going around in circle.

Distilling: The resulting liquid and some amount of the fiber is then distilled. It is first distilled in steel and then distilled again a second time in copper stills. By law, all mezcals have to be distilled twice. I guess use of steel in distillation explains why they say “Artisanal” in the label.

Ageing: The output at this point of time is what traditional mezcal looks like. This bottle is “reposado” – which means the mezcal was further aged in barrels (about three months) before the mezcalero decides that it is done.

This particular bottle is diluted to 40% (to cater to the US tastes – normally is much higher).

This is my first full bottle of mezcal. So, I am still growing my taste in it. I can certainly say, the earthy nose and finish is unmistakable. There is the smoky accent throughout due to the ageing as well as the burning underground. Not very stiff. Rather smooth finish.

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12 August 2018

First bike ride thru some good rains

Nobody in our group was ready to bike today. Luckily, Avi’s tennis match was canceled – else I was going to have to ride all by myself.

Rode up to Helen and had lunch at a restaurant by the river. The real fun was on our way back. For about 5 miles, we got completely drenched by a good bit of rain. Unfortunately, we were on the highway by then and there were not too many places to pull over to. We just kept going.

The low visibility with the raindrops splattering on the helmet visor made sure our speeds were slower than normal. I, of course, was scared stiff of any hydroplaning. But what was really making me miserable was how cold it was feeling on the skin – drenched like a drain rat and then the wind hitting us continuously (we were riding at around 60 mph (100 kmph)).

We kept pulling thru – all the time I kept myself warm thinking of how I was going to jump into the hot tub once I reached home.

This being, Atlanta, I did not have to worry about any such thing. In about 5 miles, we hit broad sunlight. There was not a drop of water on the road. Back to hot and humid weather.

With speeds picking up and the sun beating down, the clothes were dry before we knew it.

That was a good trip, all in all. Gained a little more confidence in riding in the rain…

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12 August 2018

Great runs on a Sunday morning.

The first run was a 5K with Nikita. I am loving the runs with her – although, I have to admit, she is kicking my butt in the last couple of K’s. I absolutely need to take a break in the uphill portion of the run but she just keeps ploughing thru.

To prove that I am not completely done, I went back for another 5K run by myself…

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10 August 2018

This, to my mom, is a “great weather day”

Saw an interesting sight when I went out for a run a couple of days back. I pulled my car up to the parking lot of a city park and then got out. As I started stretching those old, creaky muscles, I came upon this unique sight. In my thirteen years of running, I have certainly seen runners change clothes mid way (I myself have done this for long 20 mile runs on very hot days). But this is the first time I came upon a runner who had laid out his clothes to dry out on his car. A Mercedes SUV, no less! I assume he washed it in the bathroom sink, set it up for drying and went back for running.

Which is something my mom would completely approve of. Every morning, when I call her up, invariably, she would start with the weather. I can tell you, from the mere tone of her voice, how much it has rained that day. A great weather day means that there were no clouds, no rain – the sun out in full glory the whole day. Terrible weather means it has been raining or at least has been cloudy. A disastrous day means it started very sunny and quickly the rains came in.

See, for my mom, the barometer for weather is entirely defined by her ability to set the clothes she washes every morning up for drying in the clothesline up in the terrace. Continuous, merciless sunlight? Sounds like a perfect day. Nothing messes her up more than being stuck with a bucket full of washed and wrung clothes and no ability to put them up to dry. Well, there is something that messes her up more. It is those days when the clothes start drying in the sun and then are completely undone by sudden rains!!!

“But, mom, this is monsoon season. We need rains. The farmers need it. The crops need it”, I tried arguing with her.

In a determined bid to stand her ground while empathisizing with the farmers, she retorted “Saara raat brishti poruk na. Ami to kicchu bolcchi na.” (Let it rain the whole night. I have no issue.)

Category: Running | LEAVE A COMMENT
5 August 2018

Puzzle: The horse race problem

A friend of mine from Australia sent me this problem yesterday. It turns out to be a very interesting puzzle. See if you can get it. Feel free to send in your answers or attempts in the Comments section and I will try to respond.

In a horse race, 25 horses show up to win the gold, silver and bronze medals. Unfortunately for the organizers, there are only 5 tracks available – which means you can race only 5 horses at a time. The owners/jockeys agree that their horses will have to run multiple times to decide the first, second and third ranks. You can assume that a horse can run any number of times and always retains the same speed anytime it runs.

Here is the question: What is the minimum number of races you have to have to decide the gold, silver and bronze medalist?

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